Disclosure: I am a Glossier Rep, and I received this product as a gift from Glossier. All opinions are my own, and I am not required to post about the brand or its products at any time on any of my digital platforms.

It’s official! Glossier’s newest launch Solution has been on my top shelf for four weeks.

My skin with nothing but a little Glossier Stretch Concealer under the eyes, Priming Moisturizer Rich and mascara, thanks to Solution

You learned from my pervious post that Solution transforms the skin in four weeks, so I wanted to touch base with my readers on how my complexion looks and feels after that time.

After one week…

I never tried a chemical exfoliant before this one, so I was definitely a little nervous to get started. Thankfully, all Glossier products are gentle on the skin and I didn’t have any irritation during the first week of use.

As stated in my first impressions post, I instantly loved the smell of this product; it has a very clean, almost clinical smell, which is reassuring. It also has hints of soothing lavender, similar to that of Glossier’s Priming Moisturizer Rich.

It feels a little tingly, almost stinging (but not burning!) that quickly subsides as it absorbs into the skin. The tingling definitely lessened throughout the week.

Because I was so nervous to try this product, I decided to keep the rest of my routine really simple. Not only did I skip makeup entirely the first two weeks, I scaled back back on skincare.

I nixed my Vitamin C serum (Glossier Super Glow) completely, replaced my Thayers witch hazel toner with a more gentle tea tree water toner from Lush and upgraded from Glossier Priming Moisturizer to PM Rich. Although I’ve been using Solution at night, I’ve been sure to keep apply sunscreen every single day, as chemical exfoliators make the skin more sensitive to the sun.

After two weeks…

I got a little worried between the one- and two-week marks because my skin started to break out pretty badly–at least for me. I hardly dealt with acne growing up, with the exception of the occasional pimple now and then.

Over the summer, I developed a huge problem area on the rightmost section of my forehead/temple, which was still active before I received Solution. I attribute this to a combination of frequent traveling, changes in diet and hormones.

They weren’t the typical, short-lived, easy-to-pop whiteheads I was used to; they were large, painful, under-the-skin bumps that hardly ever came to a head and took weeks to go away. And as soon as I began to tame one, another would pop up.

During the second week using Solution, I developed three spots (one large, two small) on my right temple, two spots on the right side of my forehead, a large spot on my left cheek near my nose and a large spot along the left side of my jaw.

Obviously, this freaked me out because Solution is meant to treat and prevent acne, and it seemed to be doing the opposite. I began to wonder if I was going through a so-called “skin purge” thanks to Solution (much like I did when I first started using Glossier’s Super Pure serum), or if hormones were at play here. Looking back, it was probably a mix of the two.

(For those who are unfamiliar with the term, a skin purge occurs when you introduce a new treatment product to your regime, and it “brings hidden bacteria to the surface of the skin,” per health.com, resulting in a breakout. “After a few uses, your skin adapts to the ingredients and clears up, allowing you to reap the benefits that inspired you to buy the product in the first place.”)

Thankfully, all these spots began to heal–quite rapidly, in fact–towards the end of the two-week mark! I also noticed the pores in my t-zone looked noticeably smaller, dark marks left behind by previous spots were fading nicely, and rough texture from healing spots was softened.

After three weeks…

What a change! At the beginning of the third week, the “skin purge” stopped and I no longer had any active breakouts–including that area on the rightmost side of my forehead/temple that hasn’t been completely clear in MONTHS!

All spots were healing, and the spots on my cheek and along my jaw from Week 2 completely vanished; the spots on my forehead/temple area quickly shrank and were no longer active.

Dark marks left behind by previous spots on the forehead/temple and chin areas, as well as any rough texture, continued to fade and were barely noticeable. Pores still looked small.

Towards the middle/end of the three-week mark, I developed three small bumps: a hormonal one on the chin, and two right next to each other on that forehead/temple area super close to my hairline. Thanks to Solution, none of them came to a head, and all diminished quickly with results apparent overnight.

After four weeks…

Here we are!

I went into week four nearly blemish-free, save for those three healing blemishes leftover the last week. Previous healing spots have also faded almost completely, and my pores are barely-there.

Although I’ve worn makeup a few times in the third a fourth weeks, I kept my skincare routine relatively simple. I used a mild detox mask (Glossier Mega Greens Galaxy Pack) twice, as well as a few moisturizing sheet masks from Red Earth, during the fourth week, and didn’t have any bad reactions.

Otherwise, I made sure to keep my skincare routine from Week 1 consistent throughout the other three weeks.

Now that the four weeks are up, I’ll be reducing my Solution usage to every other day, and using Thayers witch hazel toner on the days in between in place of both Solution and Lush’s Tea Tree Water Toner.

I’ll also be reintegrating Glossier’s Super Pure serum into my routine as needed; I don’t think that will be very often given Solution’s magic powers. But, I *am* going to go another week or two before adding a Vitamin C serum back into my routine.

My favorite blogger-turned-YouTuber Lauren Elizabeth is blogging again! I am so happy! Her videos are great, but I prefer written content and photos over YouTube when it comes to fashion, skincare and lifestyle (makeup is a different story).

One of the first posts on her new site outlines her so-called One Book A Month Club, and I was so intrigued that I thought it would be fun to do something similar on Haute Mess so my readers could follow along.

Lauren shared that it has been her New Year’s resolution for the past two years to read one book a month, and this year I unknowingly made myself the same promise. Like Lauren shares in her post, reading one book per month is so rewarding, and it’s a great way to escape reality.

For the past year I haven’t gotten much of a chance to read any literature of my own choosing because I’ve been in a grad school program that has a ton of required reading. Though everything I’ve been required to read has been rewarding, it can be dense at times, and I’ve definitely been missing more leisurely reads.

In the past I loved titles like the White Girl Problems series by Babe Walker, The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins, Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler, How To Be Parisian Wherever You Are by Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline de Maigret and Sophie Mas, The A-List series by Zoey Dean and various self-help books such Do Less: A Minimalist Guide To A Simplified, Organized And Happy Life by Rachel Jonat and The Trump Card by Ivanka Trump.

When it comes to fiction, I like fun and exciting books; I rarely go for extreme, gory thrillers or anything supernatural. But, I also enjoy self-help books from inspirational and successful women.

That being said, my first book of 2018 was a fiction piece called Startup: A Novel by Doree Shafrir. Currently, I’m reading another fiction piece titled Sex And Rage: A Novel by Eve Babitz for the month of February.

So, let’s get started on the Startup discussion, and I’ll have all the details on Sex And Rage in a few weeks. Spoilers ahead…

I’m not even exaggerating when I say that this is one of, if not, the best book I’ve ever read; I was hooked from the beginning. There are so many books that I’ve read half of (or more!) before I could actually get into them. (And there are quite a few I’ve finished but did not get into at all). Not Startup.

Similarly, there’s been a number of novels that weren’t bad, but after finishing them, they just left me thinking so what? That is not the case with Startup, either. But, maybe that’s because it hits close to home in both a literal and a figurative sense.

It takes place in New York City and focuses on three main protagonists: Mack McAllister (a 20-something, seemingly successful startup founder), Katya Pasternack (a young reporter at a digital publication) as well as her boss Dan, who’s slightly older, and Sabrina Choe Blum, (a mom-of-two who gave up life as a homemaker to become social media manager at Mack’s startup, and who so happens to be Dan’s wife).

Katya and Sabrina (as well as Katya’s (soon-to-be ex-)boyfriend Victor, the co-founder of a failed startup, and Sabrina’s boss Isabel, who is 10 years younger than Sabrina and had a secret fling with her boss Mack McAllister) cross paths at an exclusive dinner party hosted by Isabel’s new love interest.

When Isabel drunkenly leaves her iPhone on the coffee table around which Katya and Sabrina are chatting, it starts a chain of events that affect the entire New York City startup community.

According to Dan (Katya’s boss), there’s a possibility that her job is at stake, so at the time of the dinner party (which is supposedly off the record), she is on the hunt for a groundbreaking story that will impress the higher-ups at her publication.

And when she and Sabrina accidentally see the series of raunchy text messages Mack sends Isabel, she gets her first lede: the young founder of a multimillion-dollar NYC startup harassing one of his female employees via text message.

Katya takes a picture of Isabel’s phone screen with her phone, then goes into the kitchen to give her her phone back, acting as if nothing happened. She’s shocked when Isabel takes her phone and nonchalantly puts it in her pocket without looking at it, then puts her arm around her newest fling without a care in the world.

All the while, Sabrina and Dan’s relationship isn’t faring so well, either. She’s fed up with him working long hours and not doing his fair share of housework; he’s more interested in his work life than his home life–and even kisses Katya after she meets up with him one evening to vent about work.

At the same time, Katya and Victor’s relationship is also on the rocks. He’s been moody and needy ever since his startup failed, leaving him out of work; she’s been extremely stressed over the possibility of being cut from her job. In a way, she didn’t hate the kiss from Dan, but ends up avoiding him at work in the following days.

Mack hosts a going-away party for one of his best employees who’s leaving to pursue a career at another startup, and while giving a toast, Isabel loudly interrupts, calling Mack out on the bullshit (for lack of a better term) he’s put her through in recent weeks.

Soon after, a mysterious, anonymous Twitter count receives an audio recording of the event and reveals Mack’s actions to the entire NYC startup community. It is then, with Isabel’s approval, Katya decides to publish the story.

After the story is out and Katya is able to tweet it for all to see, she and Dan go outside for a smoke break (something they do regularly throughout the novel), and he reveals to her that he is the face behind the anonymous Twitter account. She is so upset by the news, Dan suggests she takes the rest of the day off and goes inside without her.

While still in front of the office building, which Katya’s publication shares with Mack’s startup, she bumps into Sabrina, who is on her way to Isabel’s to console her. Katya asks to tag along.

Though Isabel truly wanted to get her story out there in the hopes that it would help other young women in similar situations, she is still understandably upset. While at Isabel’s apartment with Sabrina, Katya reveals Dan runs the anonymous Twitter account. Sabrina is just as angered as Katya, and the novel ends–somewhat abruptly–right there in Isabel’s apartment.

This, in my opinion, leaves the reader thinking that Sabrina will be leaving Dan and (possibly!) Mack’s startup, too; because of all the turmoil, things are not looking so bright for Mack’s startup in general. And given their argument, work with Dan will be awkward-at-best for Katya.

I’m dying for a sequel. Startup is the perfect balance of satirical, entertaining, smart and meaningful. Plus, if you’re a millennial, it’s insanely relatable. Reading Startup was honestly the perfect way to escape reality, so I’m a little pissed at myself for getting through all 304 pages in four or five sittings. But I just couldn’t help it–it was that good. This novel is definitely going to be a tough act to follow.

What books have you been reading lately? Have you read Startup, or are you into other types of lit? If you’ve read it, let me know what you think! If not, I’d love to hear what your current reads are 🙂

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Whether you’re in a relationship or not, every day should be about love, so Valentine’s Day is pretty useless in that aspect if you ask me. Still, it’s a good excuse to treat yourselves to a nice dinner or a weekend trip.

I put together this ultra-femme, romantic rose gold makeup look using ColourPop eyeshadows, highlighter and lip products to get us in the mood for the holiday–no boyfriend necessary.

Step 1: Prep the skin by applying Pore Refiner Primer evenly to the t-zone, working towards the outer perimeter of the face. Apply Balm Dotcom to the lips.

Step 2: Using the same technique used to apply Mattifying Gel Moisturizer, apply a light layer of Perfecting Skin Tint. If necessary, apply an additional layer where more coverage is needed.

Step 3: Conceal the under eyes, blemishes and redness with Shape Tape. Blend with a stippling brush.

Step 4: Set the entire face with Wowder, focusing on the t-zone and under-eye areas. Finish with a generous amount of setting spray and allow to dry. Blend by pressing into the skin with a dry or damp makeup sponge.

Step 5: Apply a little Primer Potion to the eye area.

Step 6: Set the primer with a matte bone-colored powder shadow on a fluffy blending brush. I used ColourPop’s Full-Zip.

Step 7: With the same fluffy blending brush, define the crease with Gimme Gorgeous. Blend upward and outwards for blown-out, cat-like effect.

Step 8: Take the matte brown shade on a smaller crease brush, and define the outer corner of the crease, as well as the outer “V” of the eye. Use the same fluffy brush from Steps 6 and 7 to blend.

Step 9: Apply Come And Get It to the center of the lid on a clean shadow brush. Blend with the same brush from Steps 6 and 7 if necessary.

Step 10: Use the ring finger to apply a mixture of Drizzle and Unsupervised to the remaining bare part of the lid.

Step 11: With the same fluffy brush from Steps 6 and 7, apply a little Gimme Gorgeous to the lower lash line.

Step 12: Drag the matte brown shade along the outer half of the lower lash line. Keep this shadow tighter to the lower lash line than Gimme Gorgeous.

Step 13: Take a mixture of Drizzle and Unsupervised on the ring finger, and gently pat that onto the lower lash line. Blend with the fluffy brush if necessary.

Step 14: Clean and define the eye area by sweeping the matte bone-colored shadow (Full-Zip) onto the brow bone with a dome brush.

Step 15: Carve out the cheekbones with Mocha by applying it directly to the skin. Begin application from the upper corner of the ear, working downwards diagonally. Then, tap with the fingers to blend.

Step 16: Continue to apply Mocha to the temples and under the center of the lip for a subtle plumping effect, and continue tapping with the fingers to blend.

Step 17: Buff Capri Coast over Mocha with a fluffy face brush.

Step 18: To brighten up the face, add a little Seduce to the apples of the cheeks. Tap with the fingers to blend.

Step 19: In a “C” shape along the orbital eye bone to the cheekbone, apply Might Be with a setting brush, then tap along the edges with the fingers to blend. This will give you somewhat of a faux “sunglasses tan.”

Step 20: Use a fan brush to apply Might Be to the bridge and tip of the nose.

Step 21: With the pinky finger, apply Let Me Explain to the inner corner of the eye and the cupid’s bow.

Step 22: Beginning in the center of each brow and working towards the inner and outer corners, apply Boy Brow in an upward motion. Add a second coat for a more dramatic look.

Step 23: Finish with more setting spray.

Step 24: After combing and curling the lashes, apply two coats of mascara to both the top and bottom lashes.

Step 25: Line the lips neatly with a nude or a nude-pink pencil (I used Oh Snap from ColourPop). Liners can be tricky, but a foolproof strategy I use is to only line the center of the top lip and the corners of the bottom lip, then gently fill in the corners of the bottom lip, fading towards the center. Rub the lips together, allowing some of the color to transfer from top to bottom and vice versa.

Step 26: Apply two even coats of Moon Child to the lips. Be sure to angle to the applicator so that the product applies neatly.

Sustainability is sexy. And like most things in life, I partake in sustainable fashion using the 80/20 rule. That is, I shop sustainably 80 percent of the time (either secondhand or from “slow fashion” retailers like the ones listed below), and indulge in non-sustainable fashion (such as Free People or I.Am.Gia) the remaining 20 percent of the time.

A few months ago I put together a post on my favorite U.S.-based fashion retailers, and while most of those *are* sustainable sources of fashion (looking at you, Backbite, Reformation and Revice), I left out a few notable names.

Hot-As-Hell: With a name like Hot-As-Hell, this definitely isn’t your mother’s sustainable fashion label. So, indulge in ultra-femme lingerie, swimwear, loungewear and ready-to-wear without any of the guilt you’d get shopping at a department store.

Per the brand’s website, “HAH is proud to work with vendors who are pioneers in their industries, socially and ecologically conscious and experts in their respective fields.”

Additionally, the label cares about their production methods just as much as it cares about its products and customers.

The site continues, “HAH is committed to minimizing waste, through our smarter usage of resources and raw materials…Ever conscious of the environment and the products we make, we work hard (and smart) to ensure that our legacy is something we can be proud of. In keeping with the HAH ideal of eco-friendly design, we have launched a number of sustainable initiatives…”

Nüdwear: Kick your Victoria’s Secret habit to the curb with Nüdwear, a sustainable lingerie company based in New York. Specializing in no-show bras for the backless, strapless or plunging top lover in you, this innovative, one-of-a-kind label also has a gorgeous selection of slips and robes.

Per Nüdwear, “We feel that it is our responsibility as a brand to minimize our impact on the environment through sustainable manufacturing practices and by using eco-friendly materials, packaging and mailers.”

Sure, nearly every gal loves splurging on a sexy For Love And Lemons or Agent Provocateur set to show off now and then. But, think of Nüdwear as the essential, everyday lingerie you *don’t* want to be seen; looking seamless is the whole point.

Re/Done: If you love denim, you need a pair of Re/Done jeans. I’m not so much of a denim lover as I am a denim obsessor, so I invested in a pair of Re/Done’s Ass Rip Jean: the same as the brand’s signature High Rise Jean, except its pre-torn right below the cheek.

Re/Done–known for its white label–is completely different from any other denim on the market in just about every way possible.

Per the brand’s website, “We take the vintage denim apart at the seams, repurposing it as the fabric of our new jeans…The pair you select on our website is the pair that you will receive at your doorstep. We simplify the tedious process of searching for hours or days to find the perfect looking vintage jeans, then having to find a ‘denim’ tailor to modernize the fit, yet give you that same personalized experience, ultimately taking individuality a step further than anyone else.”

And all of that is done sustainably in the United States.

“We are proud to manufacture our jeans in Downtown Los Angeles using water conserving methods and no harsh chemicals. Quantities will always be limited since each pair is handpicked, hand cut and distinctly one-of-a-kind.”

In addition to *tons* of denim–including jackets, shorts and skirts–Re/Done has an impressive collection of leather, t-shirts, bodysuits and sportswear. Explore #myredones on Insta for a little taste of all the brand’s white-label-clad pieces.

More than just a denim company, Re/Done is “a movement to restore individuality to the luxury fashion space, a movement to keep heritage brands relevant and a movement to create sustainable fashion.”

Enjoy the sustainable look I put together with #myredones (Ass Rips, of course) and a simple-yet-sexy ribbed tank from Reformation Vintage.

As Re/Done’s site states, these jeans took a little breaking in before they felt right. The racerback tank, however, was killer from the second I put it on. It has that perfectly flattering fit, plus it’s COMFORTABLE and looks amazing with just about everything. (And it’s just the right amount of see-through). I want to wear it all day, every day. (I’m definitely going to grab a couple more next time I’m in L.A.)

I’m also wearing Red Earth’s Have Fun Lipstick Matches in a gorgeous coral-red color; such a creamy and buildable formula. Peep the super cute packaging, too! I’ve been having so much fun testing out this brand’s range.

Hi! I am making it a priority to do monthly favorites more regularly in 2018, and we’re off to a good start with a handful of things I’ve really been loving all of January.

Let me know in the comments below what you loved in January! I want to learn all about your favorite fashion, beauty and lifestyle things.

Glossier Solution: All I can say about Glossier’s newest launch is wow–especially after seeing the before and after shots on the brand’s website and other digital platforms. This was the product I didn’t know my skincare routine needed.

After trying several different products to combat the persistent problem area on the rightmost section of my forehead/temple, nothing seemed to provide thorough, lasting results–until Solution.

But after one week of use, I noticed a *huuuge* improvement on both the texture of current breakouts and the dark spots left behind by past breakouts. In my opinion, Solution is truly one-of-a-kind because the strong, super effective formula is safe and gentle enough to use every day; its balanced with moisturizing glycerin, as well as soothing aloe and niacinamide.

I love that this product also prevents future breakouts while shrinking pores. Details to come on Haute Mess as soon as I reach the 4-week mark of using this product! But for now, check out my first impressions here.

Kristin Ess Shampoo & Conditioner: Getting my hair back to health is somewhat of a New Year’s resolution for me, so I’ve been on the hunt for the best affordable shampoo/conditioner duo. I decided to try Kristin Ess’ after I saw a handful of my fellow Glossier Reps raving about it. (I also double checked with my hair stylist–hey, Crista!–to make sure she approved. She does.)

I am so happy I didn’t dole out the cash for Kiehl’s, because I was really close to picking up their amino acid shampoo/conditioner duo at Sephora. Although Kiehl’s isn’t terribly overpriced, Kristin Ess is so much more reasonable for something that is, quite literally, going to get washed down the drain.

The first thing I noticed was that it smells really freaking good, like Byredo’s Mojave Ghost. And the second thing I noticed was how soft, shiny and weightless my hair felt once it dried. Kristin Ess’ shampoo and conditioner gave me blowout-worthy hair without any of the hassle (and only a fraction of the cost).

A few days later I noticed that, despite quite a few dry shampoo applications, my hair was still smooth, silky and manageable. I definitely recommend this duo for all hair types, and I am now super eager to try the brand’s Thickening Spray.

Gisou Texture Comb: I love everything I ordered from Gisou in December, but if I had to choose one standout product, it would be the Texture Comb. It may seem superfluous, but this tool has really changed my haircare routine.

Especially when compared to the Wet Brush I was using for five years prior, Texture Comb has done wonders for my tresses. It doesn’t pull at the hair, causing fallout and breakage the way the Wet Brush did. I instantly noticed so much less hair loss after using Gisou’s comb; so much so that I threw my brush into the trash. What can I say? I’m a changed woman.

It’s definitely expensive though, so I am really happy this was a one-time purchase that I won’t have to re-order (unlike Gisou’s hair oil and heat spray).

Oh, and I am so excited for the brand’s hair mask to launch soon! Gisou has been teasing it on Instagram like crazy, and my mane could really use a little more nourishment and deep moisture.

Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick: These lippies were somewhat of an impulse buy for me, but they instantly made their way to my army of go-to makeup products. I picked up the shades Freckle Fiesta, Shawty and PMS the day after they launched, and I am obsessed with them all.

They’re so comfortable, easy to apply, and the color payoff is strong, even and weightless. The formula, which is smooth and gel-like, is easily one of the best I’ve ever tried in a lipstick. Rihanna really hit the nail on the head with these guys.

Byredo scents: I am definitely a candle junkie! And lately, I cannot get enough of Byredo’s inviting, warm and slightly sultry Bohemia. With top notes of Opopanax and rum, germanium, labdanum and rosemary at the heart, and a moss, sandalwood and vanilla base, Bohemia is the perfect home scent for me.

Now, I’m super eager to try Byredo’s newest home fragrance Woods, as well as Peyote Poem and Safran.